Italy’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is delivering his first speech to the Italian Senate, speaking about the government’s need to reduce the country’s huge public debt “through growth,” not austerity.
Giuseppe Conte called for EU sanctions against Russia to be reviewed, saying that the government “will promote a review of the sanctions system.”
“We want to reduce our public debt, but we want to do so with growth and not with austerity measures,” he told senators during his policy speech, after which he will ask for parliament’s confidence.
The prime minister pointed out, that his government is going to put an end to the immigration “business” which has grown out of control “under the guise of solidarity.”
“The elimination of the gap in growth between Italy and the European Union is our objective, which must be followed in a framework of financial stability and the trust of markets,” he stated.
According to the PM, Italian public debt is fully sustainable today. However, its reduction must be pursued, but with a view to economic growth.
“Fiscal and public spending policy should be geared towards the pursuit of the objectives set for stable and sustainable growth. In Europe, these issues will be strongly pushed forward with the aim of change of its governance, a change already at the center of reflection and discussion in all EU member states,” he noted.
Conte, 53, said the government’s priorities would be to address social difficulties through the introduction of a universal income and to originate an influx of irregular immigrants by tackling the “business of immigration.”